My approach to resting

Offline Recess is a newsletter that invites you to pause from digital distractions and rediscover the joy of finding inspiration on your own terms, away from the algorithm.

A quick summary: It’s Sunday and today we’re exploring:

• How I choose to rest during the batsh*t crazy phase of my cycle

• A short list of offline enjoyments

• A quote about being open

I did not have anyone edit this so if you see a typo, be relieved that I’m a human and not a robot.

Checking In

with myself and you

A lethal and deadly combination appeared yesterday: PMS + too much screen time. I knew it was happening when, while I was walking into a plant nursery, I muttered and swore under the breath about the fact that my hair was being blown directly into my face from the beautiful and crisp breeze. I texted my sister about it and we laughed about how…yes this is how it is when this is how it is! 

Last night before I fell asleep I said to Adam, “I am going to really rest this weekend. I’m going to do the things that fill me up.” I knew that combination was bubbling up. It was right under the surface. 

I’m not sure if I’ve ever written about this before but I try to time my most social life during specific phases of my cycle. Work is work and I don’t shift anything there. But if I get a text from a friend or we’re making plans, I try to aim for certain weeks! The week leading up to my period, I am moody, sensitive, more introverted, and tired. Then I get my period and I feel hope again (still tired). Then I start feeling better and better and better. And then it starts again. I’m probably preaching to the choir but all bodies are different.

This next week is the irritable/tired week and I have many, many plans. 

And that’s life! My coach Hannah, who I’ve worked with for years, helps remind me of this. I won’t have it perfectly planned all the time. The control freak within screams silently (We’ll get into my need for control another time! I’m still working through this in therapy!!) 

And so…a quick list of things that I have actually helped me rest and take on the next week:

• Read outside in the morning

• Stayed on my feet all weekend: running up and down a hill with my niece, going to a farmer’s market, being outside as much as possible, working out, planting my garden

• Meal shortcuts (I got inspired by my client Ella): egg bake so I can add delicious toppings like jalapenos/cilantro/hot sauce,¹ chopping up fruit + veggies, toasting pepitas, roasting radishes, and grilling as much as possible

• Do the annoying chores so I don’t have to during the week (here’s a reminder to wash your makeup brushes) while I caught up on podcasts

• Instead of demonizing my phone, I instead tried to use it for only creative reasons. When I find myself scrolling too much, I challenge myself to be a giver and not a taker on the internet. If I’m on it, make or contribute or post. 

• And do all of the above so that I don’t feel like I need to stay up late in order to wind down.

I hope you had whatever weekend you needed to have. And I hope the week ahead inspires us both! 

Offline Things

stuff I’ve been up to and discovering when I’m not on my phone

• Gardening! My tomato and cilantro plants came back after last year. I’ve never had this happen so I’m going with it! I added jalapeno, dill, parsley, mint, cucumbers, and basil.

• I finished season 4 of Hacks (adore) and started watching The Studio (entertaining), and tuned into And Just Like That season 3 premiere² (what a fever dream lol). I also watched Mickey 17! I liked it but those bug aliens looked so fake (but adorable).

• Experimenting with making a banana coffee creamer. I think banana is the next hot flavor. If someone has already said this, great. I didn’t know!

• Illustrating something for a client and feeling really proud of it.

• Cooking meals over an open fire in my backyard > > > >

• Deciding to turn Desh’s birthday into a holiday for ourselves

To be, in a word: Open.

a quote that stuck with me

¹ Most food, in my opinion, is just a means to sauce/herbs/toppings/salt

² The lighting on this show is the most cuckoo bananas (see?) thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Carrie’s house is soooooo big. Carrie’s hat. Carrie is so rich. Rosie…an icon — what a character. No more dog plot lines please. Leave dogs to the real world. Also I literally thought, “Where is Samantha?” during the scene where the three of them are in the bar. Like I completely forgot and my brain just stopped working???

P.S. You’ve enjoyed this newsletter over the years, you can help contribute to the cost of publishing. I don’t have any intention of putting up a paywall but you can Venmo me @alliepal or send a tip via Paypal (this account is under my maiden name Jocson because Paypal makes it nearly impossible to change your name). Thank you to all who tip me!